The problem with this scenario is that in most cases the reputable blog networks will only allow those who are already pretty well know in their niche to guest post. Because of this you either have to look for a lesser known blog network that is more lenient in their guest poster criteria, or join huge networks that accepts blog posts from all their members but only chooses to move up a few (Think SEOmoz’s YouMoz section).

Whichever kind of blog network you decide to latch on, what your primary concern should be that the blog network you join is in the niche you specialize in or are interested in. Remember, if your goal is personal brand building it is more than the links that goes with blog networks that you are after. It won’t do you any good to guest post in blogs where your lack of expertise will shine a bad light on you. Not only that, but it’ll be a waste of your time because the audience is not your target audience anyway.

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Fortunately, it is extremely easy to fix your blog so that more people can read it. It’s also worth noting that many people in America speak English as a foreign language. For this reason, translation of a blog becomes important.

Google Translate is the most popular form of translation for a blog. The feature is completely free and can work in one of three ways:

3 Ways You Can Make Your Website Available to the World

1. Add the Website Translator (Drop-Down Menu)

This is a great way to section off your website. For example, if you only want readers to have the option to translate your blog into a different language, you can do that. You can also hand pick which languages you want available. You can select all the languages Google Translate offers, or pick and choose. Once you make all of your decisions on the Google Translate service, a code will be generated for you. Just copy and paste the code into your webpage, and you’re done! Visit the Google Translate homepage for more information.

2. 1-Click Translations for the Toolbar

This is one of my personal favorite ways to translate a webpage. This works great if you have a little bit of extra space on your webpage and know that you only want a few languages available for translation. For example, many businesses know if they have a lot of Spanish speaking readers, so it makes sense to stick with that one language. 1-Click Translations allows the language to be on display (as opposed to a drop down menu), so it works nicely for those who think translation will be a big selling point for their business. The best part: All you have to do is drag the language you’d like found here into your toolbar, and then all readers have to do is click the link.

3. Download Google Toolbar

Although this option does not have as many language choices as the other options, it is extremely beneficial for those who speak English as a second language. Many people want to read a website in English, but get caught on a few words. The Google Toolbar allows readers to put their cursor over a word and instantly see the word in a different language. This service is also free, and can be downloaded here.

Common Concerns with Google Translation

• Comments – Many people get nervous about translation because of the comments. If a blog is read in a different language, then won’t the comments be in that same language? In some cases yes, but in many cases no. You will be surprised to find that although a reader may read something in a different language; they feel comfortable writing a comment in English. If you do get an occasional comment in a different language, it only takes about ten seconds to translate that comment into English. You can use the Google Translate website by copying and pasting the comment in the box on the left. There is a dropdown menu up top where you pick the language of the comment (or have it detected) àEnglish, and then hit “translate” to see what the comment says. You can even type in your own comment and translate it into the reader’s language if you wish!

• Conversion – It is also worth noting that the translation is never perfect. Because languages do not always follow the same format (ex: sentence structure of subject, verb, object), it can be tough to translate perfectly. However, the translations will get the main point of the website across. If you have ever read writing from a non-native speaker, you will sometimes hear mistakes here and there; however the message is clear. Your translations will be very similar in this sense.

Translation of a website is truly one of the easiest ways your company can optimize its website. It doesn’t take up much space on a webpage or involve more than 5 minutes of work, so it’s a great little trick if you’re looking for something to spice up your website. There is no better time than the start of a New Year to try something different, and I think you will find that this is an aspect of website optimization that you’ll enjoy.

Photo Credit: cuesportnews.com

Amanda DiSilvestro is a writer on topics ranging from social media to employee background checks. She writes for an online resource that gives advice on topics including document software to small businesses and entrepreneurs for the leading business directory, Business.com.

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If you’re like most people, big name brands will probably come to mind. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll think of some relatively obscure product or company, no matter how often you use their product or service. This isn’t surprising since it’s exactly how branding is supposed to work. The very purpose of branding is, after all, to get people to remember the brand (and the business/products behind it) and remember it in the way they want us to remember. With big name brands putting millions of dollars into branding, it is no wonder that their brands are among the first that pops into mind when thinking of brands at all.

What you should realize though is that branding is for everyone. No matter how small your business might be, it is still important to invest your resources in branding. The same is true for personal brands. As a publisher, you cannot afford to neglect your personal brand. Yes, your reach might never that of the conglomerates, but it will matter for the audience that you reach. Your business may be small now and your name may not be known, but if you have plans of growing your small business, then by not investing in branding now you’re missing out not only in establishing the kind of reputation you want with you present audience, but a way to get out a POSITIVE image about you to your target audience. Not only that, but you’ll also end up having to start from scratch in the future, when you could have started all the hard legwork right now.

So if you think that branding is not for you, think again, because branding is for everybody.

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When it comes to working at home, any parent knows that no matter how well you plan out the day something is bound to happen to disrupt your schedule. It may be something trivial like spilled milk, or something more important like a trip to the emergency room. No matter what it is, the point is that the small things can add up leaving you wondering at the end of the day where all the time went, and having to scramble to finish your work.

If you work at home and have kids, here are some tips that could hopefully help increase your productivity:

Set aside a work space for you – The work space may be an entire room, or just a small corner at the kitchen. The point is that you should have a place where you can put your laptop and the rest of your work stuff that the kids will know are off limits. Having a work station will also help you not just in having a place to dump all your things, but help put you in the zone once you start working.

Establish your kids’ bedtime – This is not only good for your kids, but will also give you a more predictable time of the day when you can catch up on work without any interruptions. The few minutes you spend putting them to bed might will earn you hours of “you time” and plus points in the bonding department.

Pre-post – Every time you have a chance to do work ahead of time, do so. Publish posts ahead of time so that the next time some emergency arises you won’t have to worry to much about unfinished work because you’ve already done them ahead of time!

Photo via Charlotte Fire Dept Credit Union

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One of my favorite “classic” marketing tricks is the referral. Getting a referral is so important to a company because it has a very good chance of actually bringing in a profit. This is the case for because a referral means that your company is being talked about on a level of trust. The person getting the referral trusts the person giving the referral. This yields better results than if someone was just looking at a website.

If you think your company could benefit from more referrals, it’s time to start making this a priority. Consider a few of the ways your company can increase its number of referrals in the New Year:

Top 5 Ways to Improve Your Number of Referrals in 2012

1. Co-Marketing – Part of a co-marketing strategy is giving referrals. For those who are unfamiliar, many companies create partnerships with other, complementary companies for marketing purposes. For example, if you work at a day care center you may want to have a partnership with a pediatrician. If you refer customers to his/her practice and they refer their patients to your business, you will have an entirely new audience very quickly.

2. Social Media – You don’t need to resort back to traditional phone systems if you’re hoping for a referral. Contrary to what some may believe, old marketing tactics can coincide with new age methods. If you love social media, be sure that you have sharing buttons for all of your readers. This makes it easy for customers and clients to send an online referral to all of their friends and family.

3. Compensation – Even though giving a referral is very easy, people will be more likely to do so if there is an incentive. If you can give someone five dollars off their next visit or a free consultation just for bringing in a friend, your referrals will skyrocket. This is probably the easiest way to bring in new customers and clients (while making your existing clients happy).

4. Simply Ask – It’s never a bad idea to remind existing customers and clients that referrals are appreciated. This can be as easy as reminding them when they leave—just put it into your “goodbye” spiel. If you have a good relationship with a specific customer, ask them directly if they know anyone who may be interested. You might be surprised how something so little can go such a long way.

5. Testimonials – Gathering testimonials is great because it allows those who want to help to do their part. Many customers will tell you they simply do not know anyone in the area or anyone who would need your products or services. The solution to this is to ask for a testimonial for your website or brochure. Have them sign a document saying you can use their words on your website, and you’re good to go. This is an indirect way to give a referral, but a referral nonetheless.

In the end, people will not blame your company for trying to step up its referral statistics. It’s an inexpensive and successful way to grow a brand. In other words, looking to the past may benefit your company more than looking to the future in 2012.

Photo Credit: servicebusinessreinvention.com, mylot.com, blog.marketamerica.com

Amanda DiSilvestro is a writer on topics ranging from social media to telemarketing. She writes for an online resource that gives advice on topics including customer referrals to small businesses and entrepreneurs for Resource Nation.

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This led me to wonder: When is it too early to accept guest posts? Sometimes the best thing for your blog is a new perspective. Many well-known blogs started out as a one person operation (ever heard of Mashable?) and gradually grew to a blog full of guest writers. If you’re considering factoring in guest posts to your blog routine, but are unsure whether or not this is the right move, consider a few of these questions and answers:

The 411 of Guest Posting on Your Site

1.    When it is too early to accept guest posts?

In most cases, people will not want to guest post on your blog unless it is somewhat well established. If you have been postings an article at least three times per week, responding to visitor comments, and have remained active on other blogs (a way to get followers in the first place), then your blog is likely matured enough to accept guest posts. As long as you edit and monitor all articles going onto your blog, accepting guest posts is a great idea.

2.    Is it best to ask for ideas first, or ask writers to simply send over an article?

This obviously depends on the preference of the editor. Once again, there is no right or wrong way to ask for a guest post. However, it is worth the time to weigh some of the positives and negatives of each:

• Asking for the article first:

1. Advantages – You do not have to go back and forth with emails, so you gain more time at the start of the partnership (which is especially annoying if the writer isn’t what you’re looking for in the first place). You will also only get emails from candidates who are very serious. After all, it takes much longer to write an article than an introductory email.
2. Disadvantages – You may spend your time reading over material that you do not like (even if you have a “guest posting guidelines” section on your blog). Think of a guest post like a business proposal—you wrote out what you expected in your guidelines, so you should expect an appropriate answer before giving someone your time.

• Asking for ideas and discussing the guidelines first:

1. Advantages – The articles you receive will likely be more to your liking, and you can get a feel for a writer and whether or not a guest posting partnership will work. This should save both of you time.
2. Disadvantages – It takes more time to at the outset to email and get to know the author, and you may get a lot of emails from people who want to write, but then never actually follow through.

Once again, the decision is up to you. Both ways are professional and writers will love you either way! My advice: Try asking for the articles right away, and if you get too many low-quality articles, start asking for ideas first.

3.     Should you give authors a WordPress login?

My advice would be yes. Some editors prefer to work through email, but I am noticing many editors moving toward offering a WordPress login. If you give a WordPress login, there is still a feature that forces the article to go through a revision process (completed by you) before being published. This makes it easy for authors to contribute more than once and allows all of your articles to be neatly lined up in one place.

4.    How often should you post guest blogs right at the start?

If your blog was primarily just your writing, your visitors and fans will be surprised to see a guest author. You want to stay as true to your blog as possible at the start, so I would recommend bringing in guest posts gradually. Start by posting one per week, then two, then three, and so on. Remember that your blog gained popularity in the first place because of your writing, so always be sure you have an article or two being published each week.

5.    Should you require your articles to be unique? What if you see an article you really like and want to re-publish it on your site?

Google does not like duplicated content, so most publishers stay away from it. Asking for unique content is not something writers aren’t used to (as I’m sure you know!), so stay on the safe side and ask for only original content. This will help the overall credibility of your blog. If you see an article you really like, it will not hurt your blog to re-publish an article once or twice per month. However always remember, you must ask permission from the author and/or the website first!

If you decide that it is time to accept guest posts, make sure to create a tab on your website that outlines all of your requirements. Once you do this, you’re ready to put on your editors hat and start answering those emails. Your brilliant writing might be taking a break, but your brilliant editing skills will be needed.

Photo Credit: abnormalmarketing.com

Amanda DiSilvestro is an expert writer on small business grants based in San Diego, California. She writes extensively for an online resource that provides expert advice on purchasing and outsourcing decisions for small business owners and entrepreneurs such as HR management software. You can find more of her articles as well as vendors comparisons for your small business needs at Resource Nation or Business.com.

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Do you want to earn extra money without interfering with your day to day activities? Well then you can, with a little patience and creativity, you can earn money online and lots of them for that matter. By simple blogging your way to the internet market, you can earn a full time salary in three simple steps. A business MBA person can benefit a great deal from this. Click here to know about this.

Step 1 – Start a Controversial Blog

You may want to set up your blogging site first and then write a controversial topic that will make people raise their eyebrows. There are a lot of blogging platforms out there that offers their service for free. If you want you can register your own domain name and start from scratch but if you don’t have time for this, simply opt for the first option.

Step 2 – Monetize your blogs

You can sign up with Google Adsense as this offer the ability for people to display advertisements on your page. If anyone clicks on the ads posted on your blog, then Google will pay you for it. You can also try to join affiliate programs like the Chikita Mini or Amazon. There are a lot of other more marketing programs that allows you to monetize your blogs based on the click rates.

Step 3 – Regularly update your blogs

By keeping your blog updated and fresh, you followers will keep on visiting your site. These are the same people who would click on one of the ads posted on your site or purchase the service that you advertise.

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There are many different kinds of mobile apps you can offer to your users including games, productivity apps (i.e. specialized calculators, to-do lists, etc.), educational apps (i.e. industry dictionaries, reviewers and exercises, trivia, language tutorial, etc.), lifestyle apps (i.e. ticket store, real-time train/plane schedules, recipe book, yoga, etc.), and more. The point is that whatever industry you belong to, whatever topics you usually touch on, you’ll probably be able to think of an app that would be useful to your users.

The problem with this, however, is that it does take significant investment to come up with a good app. If you don’t have the resources to deliver a good app, do rethink your options before going ahead because you might be better off with a much simpler app that delivers in terms of quality (no buggy apps please!) instead of a potentially excellent and innovative app that ends up half-baked. Remember, first impressions last and you want your users to tie your name with a sound usable mobile app so that when you do release a bigger mobile app, you won’t be hard-pressed selling the idea to your existing user base, and hopefully in selling it to other users who most probably be basing their decisions on the feedback from your users now.

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Ignoring Quality Control Guidelines

Did you know that all of the search engines and advertising networks have quality control guidelines? Even your hosting provider has rules and regulations. Start off on the right foot by making sure your site’s layout, content, and overall goals are not in violation of any of these terms. You are, at the end of the day, competing for rankings within the search engines. If you aren’t following their rules, nothing else you do will matter at all.

Utilizing Flash Design

Flash design may look great, but Flash websites are an SEO nightmare. Why? The little crawlers the search engines use to see what you’re up to aren’t able to read flash coding. This means they’ll never see your new updates, will never pick up on your updated content, and can altogether miss your site. Believe it or not, most people landing on your site aren’t a huge fan of the way Flash looks, either. Just ditch it and make sure you’re working with a blog developer who is great with HTML.

Stealing Content

This should really go without saying, but you need to have 100% unique content on your website. Always. No exceptions. Write it yourself or hire a professional writer or blogger to help you. There is some debate as to whether or not duplicate content can impact your rankings but theft is still theft at the end of the day. Avoid plagiarizing content and you will earn the respect of your readers – and better rankings – from day one.

Improper Keyword Research

You are a professional and you know your niche. The problem is that as a professional you are familiar with the words most commonly used in your niche but the average consumer may not have the same vocabulary. Therefore, basing your SEO campaign around the words YOU would use to search for your product is not the same as using keywords your potential customers may be searching for. Make sure you are spending some quality time doing proper keyword research before you build your site’s pages.

Keyword Stuffing

The proper use of keywords is important – this is true. Overusing those keywords on your site’s pages does not look natural and the search engines will definitely pick up on your eagerness. The problem is that they will see your excessive use of keywords as “stuffing” or a commonly frowned upon method for drawing unwarranted attention to your site. Use your keywords naturally within your content, ensuring you use them in no more than 3-5% of the text. Anything more will prove you’re out for rankings and don’t care much about value.

There are dozens of great things you can do to improve the rankings of your blog. By avoiding these common SEO mistakes, you’ll be well on your way to success. Simply focus on providing quality content your readers will benefit from seeing and you will see growth sooner than you probably anticipated.

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If your site does not have a mobile version you can bet that you’ll be losing out on big opportunities. For one, shopping sites will definitely lose out on sales as customers are discouraged from completing their transaction due to the impossible check out process on their mobile phones. New sites will also lose out as once loyal readers shift to reading other online publications that offer the news in more mobile-friendly formats. The list just goes on and on.

As a publisher, this means that you really need to look into offering a mobile-friendly version of your site IMMEDIATELY. There are many DIY mobile website tools available that you can use to design and build the mobile version of your website. You can also just hire a web designer/developer to do the job for you.  And even if you just have a blog, there’s no real excuse for not having a mobile version since you only need to use plug-ins or change blog settings on WordPress and Blogger for your blog to have a mobile-friendly version.

So if you don’t have a mobile version of your site yet, what are you waiting for?

Image credit: Omeoo

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